The All-New "unofficial" AKL/AKV's Jambo & Kidani FAQ thread.....

[Donald is #1]

My kiddos really want to try the AKL for our next trip. Our options are 2 connecting Savannah rooms, 2 connecting standard concierge rooms (no guarantee of view), 1 bdr suite concierge (no guarantee of view), or 1bdr Savannah villa in Jambo. Which one would you pick and why?

Do you have to stay concierge to do the special safaris? Is concierge at AKL worth it? Any advice is appreciated!

If you want to do the sunrise safari, then you have to stay at CL. However, the sunset safari can be booked by anyone staying at AKL/AKV with a major price difference. It is $50-60 more per person if you are not staying at CL.

On whether to book CL or not, are you going to be spending enough time at the resort that you would taking advantage of the concierge lounge? Also, are the kids hearts set on a savannah view room? If you really want a savannah view room and/or won't be disappointed if you can't do the sunrise safari, then I would book the 2 savannah view rooms or the 1 BR savannah view villa. If you really want to do sunrise safari and you will be spending enough time at the resort to use the concierge lounge, then I would recommend the CL rooms. (how is that for a non-answer? )

 

[eeyoresnr]

I'm confused I know so what's new right
but I thought all CL rooms now were savannah view

 

[mmmears]

All standard (non DVC) AKL CL rooms are now guaranteed facing the Arusha Savannah. The rooms are on the 4th floor, both Zebra and Kudu trails.

 

[TheresaNY]

Triplefigs........
We just stayed 4th floor CL Savannah view for a week. It was beautiful. The view from the room was fabulous (but I could have done without the 5 mile hike to and from the room). In my opinion the CL price was not worth it for us and I would not do it again. My kids and I do not have very broad taste ranges. Most of the time we did not like the food selections. WDW did lose a lot of money due to the other family that was traveling with us ! They ate and drank them out of house and home ! They all loved the food as well as beer and cordials. They more than made up for the price difference. It did not work out that way for us however. I would just pay for the view that you would like (Savannah was worth it) and buy the food that you will eat if you have picky eaters like we are.

 

[kadee_29]

I've read the entire thread and now I'm joining.

We were able to take advantage of the code this week and bumped up from CBR to AKL. I am not sure exactly what we got I was so excited when I talked to my TA that I forgot half of what she told me. I am just happy that we were able to get in there. I haven't told the kids yet and I think I am going to try to keep it a secret until we get there.

 

[mmmears]

I've read the entire thread and now I'm joining.

We were able to take advantage of the code this week and bumped up from CBR to AKL. I am not sure exactly what we got I was so excited when I talked to my TA that I forgot half of what she told me. I am just happy that we were able to get in there. I haven't told the kids yet and I think I am going to try to keep it a secret until we get there.

Congratulations, kadee! And good luck with the secret! I think that will be a great surprise for the kids, whatever room you booked. If you dont have a savannah view room there are still plenty of savannah overlook areas where anyone can sit and watch the animals. We did that when we had dinner at AKL, and that's what convinced us to stay there next time.

Plus, the pool looks great! We walked by it when visiting and it seemed so remote and well-themed! Have a fantastic trip!

 

[kadee_29]

Congratulations, kadee! And good luck with the secret! I think that will be a great surprise for the kids, whatever room you booked. If you dont have a savannah view room there are still plenty of savannah overlook areas where anyone can sit and watch the animals. We did that when we had dinner at AKL, and that's what convinced us to stay there next time.

Plus, the pool looks great! We walked by it when visiting and it seemed so remote and well-themed! Have a fantastic trip!

Thanks!!! I don't think we got a savannah view. I think we just got standard standard. Does that only come with two queens or a king?? I thought my TA said something about bunks but maybe she was saying that I won't get bunks. I think I will call her tomorrow and see exactly what we have.

This is our first ever trip to WDW. We will be there Dec 14 - 20 and doing MVMCP on the 16th. I can't wait to see all the decorations for the holidays.

 

[copperbrick]

Thanks!!! I don't think we got a savannah view. I think we just got standard standard. Does that only come with two queens or a king?? I thought my TA said something about bunks but maybe she was saying that I won't get bunks. I think I will call her tomorrow and see exactly what we have.

This is our first ever trip to WDW. We will be there Dec 14 - 20 and doing MVMCP on the 16th. I can't wait to see all the decorations for the holidays.

Hi:

How exciting for you!

Standard rooms can have bunks with a double bed, two double beds or one king -- it depends on what you requested at the time you booked. King beds are limited and as best I know not guaranteed, even if you secure one at the time you book.

I have a standard king reserved -- we'll see how it goes!

Does anyone here know if every king room has a daybed, even standard view? I've seen yes and no.

Thanks!

 

[RachelTori]

Hi:

How exciting for you!

Standard rooms can have bunks with a double bed, two double beds or one king -- it depends on what you requested at the time you booked. King beds are limited and as best I know not guaranteed, even if you secure one at the time you book.

I have a standard king reserved -- we'll see how it goes!

Does anyone here know if every king room has a daybed, even standard view? I've seen yes and no.

Thanks!

The beds are queens (not much bigger than double, but every little bit helps! )

The bunk bed rooms are a separate booking category and if you book one of those, it is guaranteed.

The kings I'm not sure of since we've never requested (nor wanted) one. Copperbrick, you were able to book a king, but it's not guaranteed?

 

[johnsonet]

My kiddos really want to try the AKL for our next trip. Our options are 2 connecting Savannah rooms, 2 connecting standard concierge rooms (no guarantee of view), 1 bdr suite concierge (no guarantee of view), or 1bdr Savannah villa in Jambo. Which one would you pick and why?

Do you have to stay concierge to do the special safaris? Is concierge at AKL worth it? Any advice is appreciated!

We LOVE CL at AKL. I would go for it, although if you have very picky eaters I guess the PP is right about the food aspect??
There are lots of goodies in the lounge, though, so don't rule it out! Having the lounge is wonderful.
As a previous poster mentioned, all CL standard rooms are Arusha savanna view rooms, so that is guaranteed, unlike before the AKV change...
AKL is absolutely wonderful VERY special.
The Sunrise Safari would be fun for your kids and yes it is exclusive to CL guests.

 

[kadee_29]

I have a question...

We plan on celebrating DD's birthday while we are down there, about 2 weeks before her actual birthday. Is there something special that I can order from one of the restaurants there or should I try to get something during one of the dinner ADR's I have planned?? I am still not sure what day we are going to celebrate her birthday but we are planning on celebrations of some sort during our entire stay. (She had emergency brain/skull surgery last year and has fully recovered.)

 

[jeffreynmichelle]

I have a question...

We plan on celebrating DD's birthday while we are down there, about 2 weeks before her actual birthday. Is there something special that I can order from one of the restaurants there or should I try to get something during one of the dinner ADR's I have planned?? I am still not sure what day we are going to celebrate her birthday but we are planning on celebrations of some sort during our entire stay. (She had emergency brain/skull surgery last year and has fully recovered.)

Wow, that's great to hear about your daughter!! I'm sure that was a rough time for you all....what a way to celebrate....at WDW!!

You can order a cake to be delivered during an ADR (there is a board that is about birthday/celebration cakes). If you have an ADR at Coral Reef, they can do special birthday menus (where you submit pictures) and if your lucky you can even have a diver hold up a sign wishing her a happy birthday. Also, make sure you get a birthday button, that way everyone can wish her happy birthday....I believe they have a different button at each park. I'm planning on a special surprise for my husband who will be turning 30....so I've been doing some research myself!

Good luck....and again...congratulations on her full recovery!!!

 

[mmmears]

I have a question...

We plan on celebrating DD's birthday while we are down there, about 2 weeks before her actual birthday. Is there something special that I can order from one of the restaurants there or should I try to get something during one of the dinner ADR's I have planned?? I am still not sure what day we are going to celebrate her birthday but we are planning on celebrations of some sort during our entire stay. (She had emergency brain/skull surgery last year and has fully recovered.)

You can order a birthday cake to be delivered to your room (or an AKL restaurant) from AKL. They have regular cakes, a zebra-striped cake and a mickey head to choose from.

You can order lots of different cakes depending on which restaurant (in parks or hotels) you plan to be at. Check out the cake thread on the Disney Restaurant board -- there are lots of choices.

You can have a birthday basket from disney florist delivered to your room, with ears, lanyard, autograph book, balloons, plush toy, etc. for your daughter.

If you are eating at CRT, there is a really pretty "slipper dessert" that you can pre-order for that ADR. There are photos of this on the cake thread, as well.

You can get her a "birthday celebration button" to wear around WDW. Sometimes CMs will sing happy birthday or give a little treat if you are wearing it around.

I'm planning on celebrating my own DD's bday at WDW, so I've been giving this alot of thought and reading about these things here on the boards .

So glad your DD recovered -- it will be nice for her to celebrate her bday at WDW!

 

[kadee_29]

Wow, that's great to hear about your daughter!! I'm sure that was a rough time for you all....what a way to celebrate....at WDW!!

You can order a cake to be delivered during an ADR (there is a board that is about birthday/celebration cakes). If you have an ADR at Coral Reef, they can do special birthday menus (where you submit pictures) and if your lucky you can even have a diver hold up a sign wishing her a happy birthday. Also, make sure you get a birthday button, that way everyone can wish her happy birthday....I believe they have a different button at each park. I'm planning on a special surprise for my husband who will be turning 30....so I've been doing some research myself!

Good luck....and again...congratulations on her full recovery!!!

Thanks!! It was definitely a trying time for all of us but she's doing great.

We don't have an ADR for Coral Reef but I will make sure to get her a button.

You can order a birthday cake to be delivered to your room (or an AKL restaurant) from AKL. They have regular cakes, a zebra-striped cake and a mickey head to choose from.

You can order lots of different cakes depending on which restaurant (in parks or hotels) you plan to be at. Check out the cake thread on the Disney Restaurant board -- there are lots of choices.

You can have a birthday basket from disney florist delivered to your room, with ears, lanyard, autograph book, balloons, plush toy, etc. for your daughter.

If you are eating at CRT, there is a really pretty "slipper dessert" that you can pre-order for that ADR. There are photos of this on the cake thread, as well.

You can get her a "birthday celebration button" to wear around WDW. Sometimes CMs will sing happy birthday or give a little treat if you are wearing it around.

I'm planning on celebrating my own DD's bday at WDW, so I've been giving this alot of thought and reading about these things here on the boards .

So glad your DD recovered -- it will be nice for her to celebrate her bday at WDW!

Wow you have done a lot of research on this. I will head over to the cake thread now and see what I find. I do like the thought of a zebra cake. We aren't doing CRT or anything else too "girly". She is such a tomboy.

 

[kaffinito]

We are checking in on 8/26 with rented DVC points. I know that you can check in early at the resorts with a regular reservation and that they will let you know when your room is ready. For DVC, do you have to wait until 4:00 before checking in, or can you check in early?

TIA!!

 

[Donald is #1]

We are checking in on 8/26 with rented DVC points. I know that you can check in early at the resorts with a regular reservation and that they will let you know when your room is ready. For DVC, do you have to wait until 4:00 before checking in, or can you check in early?

TIA!!

You can check in as early as you like. However, the room may not be ready. I have checked in as early as 11 AM or so for DVC. In that case our room wasn't ready yet so we left our bags with the bell hops. Our room ended up being ready about 2. So you might as well check in and then jusst leave the bags with bell services if your villa isn't ready.

 

[kaffinito]

Thank you very much!

 

[holcomb-mania]

I was looking for a route from Osceola Pkwy to Irlo Bronson. I've been down Sherbeth, but there looks to be a faster route on a road closer to AKV. It's the first right, before you get to Sherbeth, and it connects to Black Lake.

Looking at it on Google maps doesn't really indicate if it's a private road or not. There is no name on it. Anyone familiar with this road?

 

[kadee_29]

Another question...

I talked to my TA earlier and I guess we have a standard queen bed room with a parking lot view. Do they know for sure its a view of the parking lot? Would I just be better off upgrading to a different view now or waiting until we get there and see what we actually get? What are the chances of an upgrade from Dec 14-20?? I know the week before is pretty busy and the week after but I was really hoping not to look at a parking lot during our stay.

 

[mmmears]

Another question...

I talked to my TA earlier and I guess we have a standard queen bed room with a parking lot view. Do they know for sure its a view of the parking lot? Would I just be better off upgrading to a different view now or waiting until we get there and see what we actually get? What are the chances of an upgrade from Dec 14-20?? I know the week before is pretty busy and the week after but I was really hoping not to look at a parking lot during our stay.

While it has been reported here that many people do receive upgrades from std AKL, I would think that "most" guests dont get upgraded. If you really care about the view, I would recommend booking the category of room you really want. Then it's guaranteed and there's nothing to worry about. Plus, if you then get an upgrade, it's great but not necessary!

Happy planning!